The Town FilesCarson, Wisconsin
Town in Portage County · population 1,374 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $344,700
- Household income
- $90,278
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 49 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 6
- Median age
- 57.5
Carson is a town of 1,374 people in Portage County, Wisconsin. The median home is worth $344,700, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). It ranks better for retirees than 78% of Wisconsin towns, better for families than 77% of Wisconsin towns, more upscale than 77% of Wisconsin towns.
How Carson ranks
Percentile among Wisconsin towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Wisconsin towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carson is worth $344,700, above the typical Wisconsin town ($256,000). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $90,278, which is more affordable than 19% of Wisconsin towns. Median rent is $859 a month. 94.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $344,700 | $256,000 |
| Median rent | $859 | $951 |
| Median household income | $90,278 | $82,217 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 3.1× |
| Homeownership | 94.6% | 86.8% |
| Median year built | 1987 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.4% | — |
Who lives in Carson
| People | Carson | Typical Wisconsin town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.5 | 45.1 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.6% | 21.0% |
| Under 18 | 14.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.2% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 14.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 27.8% | 10.9% |
| Average commute | 21.5 min | 24.6 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.3% | 89.1% |
Weather in Carson
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 7.1°F. About 34.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.7 inches of snow (typical Wisconsin town: 45.7 in). Expect about 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 164 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carson since 1950, compared with 15 for the typical Wisconsin town. The strongest, an F1, struck on May 16, 1992 about 8.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 16, 1992.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 21 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on August 2, 2015.
Severe weather in Portage County since 1996
Portage County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, drought, tornado.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 4, 2020 | Biological | DR-4520: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3454: Covid-19 |
| August 27, 2019 | Flood | DR-4459: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding |
| October 21, 2010 | Severe Storm | DR-1944: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3249: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Portage County
Portage County had 33,088 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $56,889 a year. Unemployment was 3% in 2023; in Carson itself the ACS puts it at 2.5%.
Towns near Carson
- Linwood, WI5.5 mi · 1,070 people · home $270,400
- Rudolph, WI6.0 mi · 1,027 people · home $201,100
- Eau Pleine, WI7.4 mi · 1,063 people · home $296,100
- Sherry, WI7.8 mi · 755 people · home $172,800
- Biron, WI8.5 mi · 839 people · home $154,400
- Hull, WI8.8 mi · 5,287 people · home $283,500
- Stevens Point, WI9.3 mi · 25,666 people · home $195,400
- Park Ridge, WI9.6 mi · 530 people · home $287,800
Carson questions
Is Carson, Wisconsin a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carson scores better for retirees than 78% of Wisconsin towns and quieter than 76%. 26.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.5).
How much does a house cost in Carson?
The median owner-occupied home in Carson is valued at $344,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,278, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $859 a month.
What is the weather like in Carson?
July highs average 79.7°F and January lows 7.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 34.0 inches of precipitation a year and 48.7 inches of snow.
Does Carson get tornadoes?
6 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carson since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F1 on May 16, 1992. The typical Wisconsin town has had 15.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)